Known as the City of Love and Light, Paris is likewise the City of Style. Nearly synonymous with fashion, luxury, and haute couture, Paris boasts a long list of fashion history's most iconic designers. From Worth and Poiret, to Vuitton, Chanel and Dior, these fashion visionaries turned the city into a haven for designers and trendsetters alike. On our three-hour Paris fashion tour in the company of a historian, we will weave a narrative through Parisian fashion history, from our discussion of the late 18th-century notion shops in covered passageways, the rise of the grands magasins, and the 20th-century designers who revolutionized the way we dress.

Paris Fashion Tour

We will begin at the Palais Royal (also explored on our Gardens of Paris Tour), where we’ll stroll through the covered passages that introduced glass-front shops to the 18th-century. Designed by Louis-Phillipe d'Orléans, Duc de Chartres in 1781, Palais Royal combined shopping, entertainment, and leisure space, becoming an instant sensation with the Parisians. Previously accustomed to narrow, winding streets, the orderly layout of the complex was revolutionary. Customers who came here to see and be seen were dazzled by various wares, fabrics, cafés, and restaurants and would see many current designs later that night at the theatre, where actors simultaneously portrayed and influenced the style of the day.

Capital of Fashion

We will then move towards the Opéra and the grands magasins created as a result of Baron Haussmann’s 19th-century urban revitalization plan—a critical part of Parisian history explored on our Paris City Planning Tour. Here, we will learn how the most current fashion trends of the Second Empire became accessible to a wider audience. We’ll pass by the former ateliers of high-end designers such as Charles Frederick Worth and Jacques Doucet, whose luxurious and stylish gowns attracted customers such as Empress Eugénie and other nobility. Worth and Doucet's notoriety even reached the famous actresses and the wealthiest women who visited from all over the world, truly establishing Paris as the capital of fashion.

Passing through the Place Vendôme, now home to high-end jewelers and boutiques, we’ll step into fashion of the 20th-century. Pioneered by Coco Chanel, who installed her studios nearby, we will look at the shift away from the excessive, constrictive designs for women's fashion towards more practical—yet no less stylish—silhouettes.

Take Aways on Rue Saint-Honoré

We'll finish our time with a better understanding of how the Art Déco movement influenced shoppers who flocked to the newest ready-to-wear boutiques along the famous rue Saint-Honoré and in the perfect jumping off point to do some independent shopping.

"Our guide was knowledgeable, energetic, and came prepared with great drawings to help us visualize the designs. There was so much historical content—even my husband loved it."

For those seeking some assistance finding the best boutiques, we suggest our Paris Shopping Tour. Please contact us for more details.

FAQ

Will there be any opportunities do some shopping during the walk? Our tour focuses on illuminating the timeline of fashion history in Paris and does not include shopping. However, if you're more interested in an expert-led, customized shopping experience, we could arrange for a private shopping tour with one of our fashion experts. Please contact us to discuss the details.

Is this tour walking intensive, and/or wheelchair accessible? We do cover extensive territory on this tour. Please contact us with any questions; we will be happy to advise if this tour will be appropriate for you, and can also design a private, customized tour for visitors with mobility issues.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Marie

The daughter of a sculptor, Marie has been surrounded by art ever since she was born. A native Parisienne, she holds an undergraduate degree in history and art history, with a specialty in iconography and French and Flemish paintings from the 16th to the 18th centuries. She also holds a Master's degree in museology from the Ecole du Louvre and one in Art History from the Sorbonne. She currently works for the French National Art History Institute on special cultural events. Since she loves literature, ballet, theatre, opera, jazz clubs, and classical concerts—she has been playing the piano since she was 9—Paris and its artistic life are a perfect fit.

Marine

Marine comes from Marseille in the South of France but has been leaving in Paris for 12 years. A licensed tour guide since 2014, she first studied Art History at the Ecole du Louvre and then History at Nanterre University, from which she was awarded a Master degree. She also spent a semester in Italy, at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. In addition to her academic work in history and art history, she has a diploma in enology from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Before becoming a tour guide, Marine worked for museums and art foundations. Now, in addition to guiding, she teaches History of Architecture at the Ecole du Louvre. She is passionnate about architecture, history of fashion and street art.

25 Reviews
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(4.97)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our
FAQ.

Your guides are always excellent and I am always riveted by the content. On this occasion, Marie managed to engage my husband also, which on the subject of fashion is a real win.

Prue

Aug. 31, 2019

This tour was absolutely amazing. We had taken the Versailles for Kids tour the previous Sunday and were very disappointed. But this walking tour with Marie, was amazing beyond the wildest expectations of both my 11 year old niece and myself. Marie was articulate, kind and very intelligent. She gave us a walking tour of the Left Bank AS WELL as the Right bank where all of the historical fashion icons resided and worked. Her visual aids kept the interest of both myself and my 11 year old. I am rather familiar with the history of Paris as well as the Parisian fashion industry, yet she kept surprising us with new information, new behind the scenes activities, and "off the beaten path" fashion locations I never knew existed. And she was so knowledgeable. WOW!!! One of the BEST context tours... in fact, one of the best travel tours I have ever taken. After the disastrous context Kids tour of Versailles we bravely endured 2 days before, I was ready to give up on taking another context tour. However, this tour was so incredibly awesome, I would clearly continue to recommend these tours to all of my colleagues who frequently travel. Although I'd tell them to avoid the Versailles tours like the plague.

Colleen

Jul. 1, 2019

Since there are many free walking tours being offered these days, I think your prices are a little extravagant. Also the participant should be left with a brochure or summary of the highlights, details and information about what they have seen.